Chester Farm - Construction Phase

Chester Farm, the site and its buildings, comprises a nationally, regionally and locally significant heritage asset: the richness and complexity of the site is reflected in its designation as a Scheduled Ancient Monument, with some of the farm buildings and garden walls being Grade II & II* Listed. It comprises 34 hectares, lying in the Nene Valley and adjacent to the town of Wellingborough. The site is also located in an area of considerable wildlife and ecological interest within the recently created Nature Improvement Area and adjacent to a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The County Council is committed to making the site somewhere that people want to come; a place that through education, learning and enjoyment adds value to their lives, and helps them to appreciate Northamptonshire's outstanding heritage. Key elements of the heritage at Chester Farm

Evidence of settlement from at least Mesolithic times to date; Iron Age enclosures and ancient field systems below the ground; Roman settlement, including a Roman walled town dating from the 2nd century with extensive suburbs, a network of Roman roads, a number of cemeteries and a causeway across the adjoining flood plain; Medieval village of Chester by the Water including some evidence of its main street together with associated mill, open fields and meadows. Complex of farm buildings dating from the 17th century including the main Chester House (Grade II* listed) and barns (Grade II) with the remains of formal gardens, an orchard and parkland. Evidence of ironstone quarrying from the site in late 19th and early 20th century, including the remains of the lines of a tramway across the site. Countywide collections of archaeological artefacts (to be brought to the site from their current locations and safely housed and made accessible there).

The Requirement - Capital Works

It is envisaged that the capital works will consist of the following (in summary):

Conservation and reinstatement of the main farm house – Chester House – with rooms converted for use as café and meeting space, together with a 2 bedroom dwelling.

• Conservation and conversion of the 17th century threshing barn for use as a conference, education and training venue, with associated buildings used to provide reception and catering facilities.

• Development of a number of historic barns and former workers’ cottages into interpretation and information points.

• Development of historic farm buildings as education/learning space on two levels

• Construction of a new building to house the countywide archaeological archive resource centre

• Development of two large modern barns and one smaller barn into office/retail space.

• Landscaping and car parking provision.